Morris: Lessons to be learned from Stags defeat

Derby County assistant manager Jody Morris says defeat to Mansfield Town on Wednesday night will give the Rams plenty to think about as pre-season progresses.

Mansfield ran out 3-1 winners, all of the goals coming in the second-half with Mason Bennett netting the Rams' only strike. Match report HERE.

And Morris and boss Frank Lampard were left with lots of food for thought.

Morris said: "It could have been better and it's given us lots to work on. I thought we were OK in the first-half and there were a couple of decent individual performances from the lads, but in the second-half we didn't really get going and obviously when you're giving away the kinds of goals we were giving away, which were poor, the opposition's tails are up and they get a little boost.

"We only created a couple of chances in the second-half and I think that'll be the most disappointing thing, in that we've been moving the ball quite well but didn't control the tempo of the game as much as we'd have liked.

"But it's only the second game and there's a lot of work to be done."

The Rams, who beat Notts County 4-1 in their opening pre-season game last weekend, will have learned a lot more from Wednesday's defeat, according to the Rams assistant.

He added: "It does give us a bit more to talk about and maybe a bit more to address, as is usually the case when things don't go right. There are good coaching points to work on there such as the goals we conceded but there were other things too."

Derby now prepare to face Premier League side Southampton at Pride Park on Saturday in what will be Frank Lampard's first home game as manager.

Morris added: "It'll obviously be a very different test to those we've faced so far but a lot more players will get a lot more minutes from here on in. We could well see Mason Mount and Harry Wilson feature then too as they weren't quite ready tonight.

"The fact it's the first home game will make it a good occasion but as tonight showed, if you're not organised and make mistakes then it's much harder to win games."

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